2007 Fall Tour Announcement
April 30, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Beginning in August 2007, I will be going on a nationwide tour of America’s college campuses spreading the word that college students can be their own best protectors. I’ll travel to 20 college campuses from coast to coast, giving two programs: Girls Fight Back! (for women only) or How to Be a Bad Victim. (for both men and women) I will also be promoting the 2nd edition of my book, Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself.
The 90 minute programs both cover the following subject matters:
*My real-life story of losing a sorority sister to homicide in 2001
*3 practical steps to living a safer life on campus you can start using TODAY
*Empowering risk reduction strategies to avoid common campus crimes
*The real facts about human intuition, and how to use it to avoid bad situations
*Ways to develop a “bad victim” mentality
*A 3 prong approach to practical self-defense
*Tips and resources where students can seek more education, counseling or training
*Ideas on how to get active on YOUR campus to end violence
Colleges who book a program during the Fall Tour will receive the following perks:
*A 90 minute program (Either Girls Fight Back or How to Be a Bad Victim)
*10 FREE books, Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself (2nd Edition
*10 FREE 11×17 posters to advertise the program on campus
*10 FREE tour t-shirts*
Book by June 30, 2007 and receive a $500 discount off the speaking fee!
For booking information, contact us or call CAMPUSPEAK Inc. at 303-745-5545.
Utica College - Utica, NY
April 26, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Last night I spoke to one of the most energetic and hilarious crowds of all time at Utica College. Getting there was a bit of a nail-biter, as the weather sucked pretty much everywhere and there was major road construction between Syracuse (where I flew into) and Utica. (40 miles away) But I ended up making it in time, welcomed by students and Greek advisor, Tennille. They had pre-ordered books and wanted autographs before the program even started! We had an awesome time, and I really connected with a few of these students who had some pretty horrific stories of their own. Overall, just a great program. One girl wrote on my Facebook wall saying she and her friends agreed I was the female version of Dane Cook. I love that man! Maybe he and I should tour together…he’d be a great Scary Bad Guy, no?
UIC - Chicago, IL
April 24, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday was quite eventful. It started off with me flying from Denver to Chicago, and I saw someone familiar as I stood in line to board the plane. This woman looked exactly like my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Harmon. It was over 20 years since I had seen her, so clearly I was doubting my memory. As it turns out, she was seated directly in front of me on the airplane so I couldn’t help but to ask. So I tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, but are you Nancy Harmon?” She looked me dead in the eyes and said, “ERIN WEED!” Holy cow, how did she remember me? That was weird…she recalled me being a straight A student which I assured her was discontinued past age 10. She refused to believe me. But it was so great to see her, and it turns out she’d been clipping articles about me and GFB over the years. Funny stuff. Obviously I had to take a photo with her (see above) once we landed in Chicago and she obliged, after asking what a blog was. Mrs. Harmon was my favorite teacher of my entire education, so if you’re reading this, thanks for everything!
Shannon’s Dedication - Charleston, IL
April 21, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday I drove two hours east to Charleston, Illinois to get to the campus of Eastern Illinois University. For several years, the physical education dept. at EIU has been raising money for a plaque of Shannon, and also the scholarship in her name. (See above) This year a scholarship was given to a very deserving recipient, and we had a lovely ceremony. I was asked to speak, and of course started to lose it a little bit. It was just really overwhelming for me to be in the same gym where Shannon worked and where we played Intramurals in college…and there I was dedicating a memorial in her honor. My emotions always sneak up on me, just when I think I’m fine. You’d think by this point I’d plan ahead and bring kleenex, but no….
Above is a pic of myself with Shannon’s parents (Bob & Cindy), Phys. Ed. Dept. Chairwoman Phoebe Church, Shannon’s scholarship recipient (Amanda Maxedon) and EIU president Lou Hencken. It was an emotional, but touching and powerful event and I was glad I could be there for it.
Illinois State Univ. - Bloomington, IL
April 20, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Wow, last night was a total blast! I spoke to a packed auditorium at lovely ISU to a huge crowd of sorority women. A huge thanks to all the students who wanted to bring the Girls Fight Back program, as well as the Panhellenic Advisor, Lisa Westendorf. Being that I have a bunch of college friends who live in Bloomington, I know the town rather well. Therefore I was able to drop all sorts of inside jokes about “B-town” as we call it. Gotta love central Illinois humor. After the program I had the opportunity to meet up with Bobby McNamara. Bobby was Shannon’s little brother, and he is an ISU grad and now working at a home for troubled adolescent boys in Bloomington. I asked him how he has coped in the six years since his sister’s murder, and his response was so filled with faith and peace. He said, “As long as she is continuing to save lives through Girls Fight Back, I have peace with it.” The support of the McNamara family has truly been the thing that has kept this train movin’…
University of Mississippi - Oxford, MS
April 19, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday I made the long trek from Washington state down to Oxford, Mississippi to speak at Ole Miss. This was a visit I had been looking forward to for a very long time, since the event organizers were SO enthusiastic! I met so many great people, and did the How to Be A Bad Victim program to an incredibly diverse and fun crowd. After the program, I led the crowd in practicing some chants, and then we embarked on a mile long Take Back the Night march throughout the campus. (Women unite, take back the night!) All of us were marching with candles and it was just so cool and empowering. The march ended at a pavillion where a survivor of domestic violence named Sonia sang a lovely song and shared her story of surviving an escaping from a domestic violence situation. So inspiring. The mic was opened to the crowd, some of who shared their personal stories on how violence has affected their lives. It is so awesome to see students literally all over the country who are so mindful and dedicated to eradicating the violence on our campuses and in our society. It was truly a blessing to visit Ole Miss. See the pic above of me and some new friends after the candlelight march.
Spokane Falls CC - Spokane, WA
April 18, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday I spoke at Spokane Falls Community College in lovely Washington state. I have spoken in Spokane pretty much every spring since 2002, so it’s like a staple in my year to make a visit to this place. After all the events that took place on Monday at VT, it was an especially heavy program. I began the “How to Be a Bad Victim” lunchtime session dedicating it to the community of Virginia Tech, and shared my story of being touched by the campus when I visited in October 2006. After that, we moved into the program and learned about staying safe and sound on campus and beyond. My scary bad guy was a hilarious dude named Patrick, and a huge thanks goes to everyone who brought me to campus. Pictured above are myself with the event organizers: Dr. Ann Ciasullo, Magen and Krictal. Thanks for lunch and another great visit to SFCC!
In other news, I am happy to report I received an email from the vigil organizer at Virginia Tech saying she had more than enough candles for the vigil last night. I can’t believe everyone pulled it off…but it’s so inspiring to know that people are willing to rise to the occasion to help others in their time of grief and need. I saw clips of the vigil on CNN, and it was lovely tribute to the lives lost…
Got candles for VT?
April 17, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Well the shooter has been identified, and now the death toll is up to 32. We need some help with something, and I’m hoping one of my loyal blog followers can throw us a bone. Does anyone has a large amount of candles they could donate to a vigil being held at Virginia Tech tonight? If so, please e-mail GFB at info@girlsfightback.com. I was in contact yesterday with a friend of mine from VT who is organizing the vigil, which is expected to bring out over 40,000 people. Since it would be great to have a candle for each of them, I was up half the night getting in touch with my well-connected friends trying to make this happen. So far, it looks like we’ve made progress…but if you know of a source that can help, please shoot us a note. Many thanks.
Prayers for Virginia Tech
April 16, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Like many of you, right now I am watching CNN in horror at the mass shooting that went down this morning at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. As of now, they are saying the fatality number includes 21 people and the shooter. I spoke on this campus in September on my book tour and met hundreds of women there. Today all my thoughts and prayers are with these students and their families as they cope with the events from this tragic day.
Now That She’s Gone - new play
April 15, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
I was recently approached by the awesome author and screenwriter, Ellen Snortland, to help promote her new play. If you live near New York City, go check it out! It contains some GFB-esque themes, including self-defense. Kudos to Ellen! See promo text below.
Please join Gloria Steinem & Helen LaKelly Hunt in New York City for a showcase evening of Ellen Snortland’s: “Now That She’s Gone.” Gloria Steinem says, “ Ellen Snortland’s one-woman play, “Now That She’s Gone,” is what good theater is all about. Her funny and tragic, particular and universal story sends us home with a better understanding of our own.”
New York City – Wednesday May 2nd 2007
5:30 doors open; 6:00 p.m. curtain
Norwegian Seamen’s Church at 317 East 52nd St. NYC, btw 1st &2nd Aves.
www.kjerka.com
Suggested Donation: $40 to benefit Women’s Funds in NYC
Reservations: call 201-669-9927 or e-mail: rsvp@hunt-hendrix.com
Tickets available at the door if there are still seats.
Now That She’s Gone is a play that explores Ellen Snortland’s often wacky, irreverent and sometimes torturous relationship with her Norwegian-American mother. Now That She’s Gone has been described as a Lily Tomlin / Garrison Keillor / Eve Ensler hybrid… passionate, poignant and funny in turns. A memoir piece with Eleanor Roosevelt, sex, drugs and lutefisk, the play and performance have received rave reviews and standing ovations in California, New York, and Washington, D.C. For further information, contact Ellen by visiting: www.snortland.com
Florida and Philly and Jersey…oh my!
April 14, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Normally I’m pretty good about keeping the blog updated, but this past week was a total debacle. I was constantly on the go, leaving very little time to give you my latest updates on my tales from the road. So here it is, Saturday afternoon, and I finally have a free moment to bring you up to speed. Phew!
Lifescript.com
April 9, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
A few weeks ago I did an interview with Shanna Thompson, a freelance writer for a very cool and educational website called Lifescript.com. She also interviewed two other women’s safety authors/instructors, Kathleen Baty and Lisa Gaeta. Check out the article and you can also take a fun little safety quiz at the end. Enjoy.
Happy Easter
April 8, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Nothing says happy easter like a grown woman wearing a bunny suit.
We made it to Colorado
April 7, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Thanks to you all for your patience as I have neglected this blog for the past week or so. As you know by now, my family and I made the cross-country move from New Jersey to Colorado. As you can see from the photo above, it’s been quite a juggle running GFB from my SUV at rest stops along the way…but with the grace of God and a Palm Treo, all things are possible. I’m happy to say we’re all settled in and have acquired a massive amount of home furnishings in a record amount of time. I hit the road again tomorrow for the rest of April, so it’s nice to have things in working order (for the most part) before I go. So both myself and this bloggy are back in action…stay tuned for some wild adventures this week.